SHAMARA RILEY COMMENTARY: I Survived A Tea Party
By HHR | April 17th, 2010 | Category: Featured, General, HHR Contributors |
I originally went to the Federal Plaza on South Dearborn, where an email about the Chicago Tax Day Tea Party (somehow Booker Rising got on somebody’s list) said the event was to held. However, what was there was a small group of hippie-looking liberal who held a long banner with this statement: “Do you know where your taxes are going?” A guy was on the corner holding a sign indicating that the tea party event was at the significantly larger Daley Plaza over on North Randolph, so off I went.
As the event was scheduled to go from 12:00N-1:30pm, the public plaza was also interspersed with lunchtime eaters and curious folks. A couple of vendors sold tea party-related merchandise on the periphery of the plaza, where there was also a significant police presence. Also, on the periphery was a contingent of white gay liberal counter-protesters, waving rainbow flags. As I went into the plaza, I overheard one of them say, “These f_____s are racist!” Another one held up a white sign which said, “Don’t Tread Spit On Me”, a play on tea party slogan to refer to the allegations that tea party activists in Washington, D.C. protesting the health care bill spit on a black U.S. Congressman. It was interesting that one of the counterprotesters was alleging racism, because the racial makeup of the counterprotesters even less diverse than the tea party crowd of 2,000-4,000 folks.
The crowd was younger than I expected (since media reports kept talking about senior citizens), mainly middle-aged but many twentysomethings there as well. There were folks in business suits, military veterans, senior citizens, young moms with strollers, and collegians. I’d say the crowd was about 85%-90% white. I saw Hispanics - who seemed to be the most numerous racial minority represented at the event - with those yellow “Don’t Tread On Me” flags. One Asian woman was pushing her son (about four years old) in a stroller, where he held a yellow sign saying, “I owe what?” There were few black folks (a conspicuous absence, given that Chicago is 35% black), and a good chunk of them appeared to be curious observers. The tea party movement has a ways to go in making its movement look like America, especially in attracting black participants.
Here are some of the tea party activist signs that I saw: “Rand Was Right”, “I Am John Galt” (another Ayn Rand reference), “Please Dispose Of Socialist Policies” (with trash can logo; also a T-shirt), “Taxed Enough Already”, “Dump Nancy’s Eunichs”, “Don’t Tax My Allowance” (held by a 9- or 10-year-old kid), “Deport D.C.”, “Redistribute My Work Ethic, Not My Income”, “Elect Common Sense Conservatives”, and “Another Bill Congress Doesn’t Read” (with Bill Of Rights image).
A few interlopers also had signs, including one that was downright outrageous. “57% of the budget is spent on wars!”, proclaimed a couple of blue signs held high. Patently false. Some 55% of the federal budget is spent on Medicare/Medicaid/CHIP (21%), Social Security (20%), and safety net programs (14%). Defense, which includes the appropriations for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, account for “only” 20% of the budget. Even when you examine the federal deficit, it is stimulus funds, bank bailouts, and various welfare spending that made up the overwhelming bulk of the deficit.
The rally speakers appeared to be mostly Republican candidates for office voicing opposition to increased taxes in Illinois to close the state budget woes, asserting that the tea party movement was mainstream, and promoting their campaigns. Candidates were also milling about in the crowd, trying to securing signatures to get on the ballot. As someone who is not keen on either the Democrats or Republicans, I was less than thrilled about the strong tie-in to the GOP seen at the event.
One of the rally speakers, John Arrington (who asked me earlier if I could sign his ballot petition, but I don’t live in suburban Cook County), is a black Republican running for suburban Cook County regional school superintendent. He was introduced as a “Harvard-educated community organizer from Chicago’s South Side”, with a joke about U.S. President Barack Obama. Mr. Arrington said (and I’m paraphrasing here): “You’ve been called hatemongers, and now I see why. You hate high taxes, loss of liberty, and government intrusion….You’ve been called bigots, and now I see why. You hate black lies, white lies, fat lies, all lies…” He was one of two speakers who kept my attention, because the others were insufficiently charismatic, good speakers, or whatever to maintain my attention.
I didn’t see any foulness from tea party activists (e.g., I saw no racist signs or witnessed racist behavior). Nor did I see the counter-protesters act foul. The only problem that I experienced was a white guy in his early 20s, in a red shirt, who kept staring me down for about five minutes. Possibly in a leering way, but I wasn’t sure. He struck me as “special”, given how his mother was interacting with him. However, he was making me feel uncomfortable, so I actually moved to another spot (with a better view).
There was a sizeable Ron Paul contingent at the event, which stayed even after the event was over and the stage torn down. They had banners and signs such as “Why Pay Taxes When They Just Print Money?” and “End The Federal Reserve”. Earlier, a black guy was passing out literature and it turned out that he was part of the Ron Paul crew. Later on, a white guy said, “Ma’am, here you go”. It was the libertarian Republic magazine, titled “The Second American Revolution”.
Earlier, another white guy handed me a flyer titled “The Power Of The Sword”, which talked about militia activity. The website listed at the bottom was for the Continental Congress 2009. The flyer states: “The ‘Militia’, mentioned 6 times in the U.S. Constitution, is NOT the ‘National Guard’. The Militia is all citizens capable of bearing arms, and is ‘necessary to the security of a free State’. We the People never authorized our servant government to disarm us, and in fact, specifically stated our unalienable ‘right….to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed’. Therefore, ALL gun control laws are unconstitutional. All interference with the citizen’s unalienable right to form militias for the protection of their life, liberty, property, and the security of a free State is unconstitutional and treasonous. We the People must regain the Power of the Sword. We urge all Illinoisans to start forming militias in your area, and create a network and communicate with other militia groups in Illinois.”
I also got a liberal flyer, from a dreadlocked black guy on my way out of the venue. It was even tax-related. The title: “Don’t Be a Passivist [sic]…Be a Nonviolent Activist! REFUSE TO PAY TAXES DESTROY ISRAEL’. Plain Press is the name of group behind the flyer, which also includes www.911hoax.com and “Zionism is the enemy of Humanity” talk. Oh, and the Star of David used instead of the “O” in President Obama’s name
Contrary to the media talk, I survived intact. All in all, an intriguing day.
Shamara Riley is the Editor of Booker Rising a blog news site for black moderates and black conservatives.
Thank you for the report Shamara. Sounds like a lot of interesting characters attending these events. I’m going to have to check one out myself.
…Shamara…..My heartfelt thank you for your report…..Also, for setting the “record” straight regarding black conservatives….It does become tiring convincing people that there ARE black and minority conservatives in the USA……God bless you, as you………..” keep spreading the word!”
Great. No one called you a N word. I guess its all good then. If Michael Steele could see racism when it exists, why are Hip Hop Republicans so reticent to call it when they see it? Have you asked why the sudden VAGUE outrage?
This is outrage about a President that does not share “their” values. They want their country back.
What drastically happened to the gov’t exacly 16 mos ago that brought on the first Tea Party Protest. Nothing.
Reagan raised taxes 6 times, no Tea Party Protest. Bush I and Clinton did too, no Tea Party Protest. Bush II created two new Agencys out of thin air and jacked spending from a surplus to a deficit. No Tea Party Protest. Why the sudden anger about taxes for a President who lowered them? Could it be all about the spending. What do they want to cut? Is it clear? We had Democratic and Republican Presidents with their own agendas with no Tea Party Protest of mostly older white, well educated, rich people. They only want less gov’t when it comes to you.
Everytime this country has made steps forward there has always been a backlash.
- Abolish slavery heres more KKK and States Rights fetishist.
- Brown v BoE heres George Wallace and States Rights fetishist.
- Elect the first Black President heres the Tea Party, States Rights fetishist, and Hip Hop Republicans.
Wow, awesome race baiting Just_saying! Rev Sharpton would be proud!
You assertions are ridiculous and shows how out of touch you are. The last two years of the Bush presidency were atrocious. Conservatives of every stripe began criticizing his big spending ways with fervor. Where were you when Michael Savage called him the worst president in American History? Rush Limbaugh in 2008, after so many republicans were letting conservatives down, said that he is no longer going to ‘carry the water’ for them. If they can’t defend conserative principles and are going to keep voting for liberal policies, then to hell with him.
That was when the backlash started in earnest. It started LONG before Obama was elected. But nice try just_saying, and I’m sorry the truth doesn’t fit your race baiting agenda to keep blacks in the big government democratic party. That ship has sailed friend.
just_saying,
Because she didn’t see it.. Unlike the left, she obviously isn’t out to paint the tea party as a racist group. It’s called “honesty.”
I went to a tea party in San Diego. I just so happen to have spent the entire time with two African-American women. One Conservative, one Democrat with buyers remorse.. All three of us, unhappy with the direction of the nation.
For the record I am part white, part Native with a black stepfather and black brother… Not to mention my black godson, so I’ll be damned if some white liberal is going to paint me as a racist when I have been pulled over with my family and held for hours (for no real reason) by REAL racists in certain small town America! When I have been called every name in the book and had rocks thrown at me by REAL racists. I know REAL racism, I’ve dealt with it my entire life, and these people ain’t it.. The left is trying to silence the tea party and ensure the crowds are not representative of America. It’s evil what the left does to divide people along racial lines.
JUST SAYIN!
Omg did limbaugh and savage express buyers remorse? Well that’s just like the outrage I see now. Hey, where was the Tea Party rally when President Bush declared war or enacted the patriot act? They were cheering it on.
Race baiting is limbaugh telling 3 million people that healthcare is reparations. Race baiting is when Beck says a half-white president hates white people. Im just noticing that these race baiters are informing the Tea Party that has all this sudden vague outrage.
Race baiting is when a speaker at the Tea Party convention questions the Presidents citizenship right before Palin gave her speech. These people are outraged because the media has attacked this President in a way no other dem pres has been attacked.
Yes Stacy.
It was the left that fought civil rights. It was the left in that small town that pulled you over.
Maybe that cop that pulled you over wasn’t a racist. Maybe he was doing his job. Did he tell you he hates all black and brown people? When those people were throwing rocks, did they say they hated all black people?
No? Then please stop using your eyes, ears, and brain to see racism when have no real proof. And if you continue to do this, don’t act like you have the ultimate truth on who is racist and who isn’t. From my vantage point the Tea Party is a direct backlash of this President being elected.
And before another lecture about not painting a whole people a certain way, do continue to tell me how evil this “left” is.
Hypocrites
Just-Saying –
It was not only “The Left” that fought for civil rights. When you say “liberal”, you really need to define what that means. Republicans and Democrats are by our ideological histories “classical” liberals. When Conservatives supported and fought for civil rights in the past, they did so because of there “classical liberal” worldview. This is why many opposed slavery; they felt it violated the right of the individual.
Classical liberalism supports individualism over collectivism. Modern liberalism, which contrasts with classical liberalism, is more about collectivism. Republicanism seeks a balance of the two. One example of this is Sen. Everett McKinley Dirksen a Conservative Republican who helped to write and pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Open Housing Act of 1968, both landmarks of civil rights legislation.
Never made the point that the left fought for civil rights alone. Sarcasm is better in person than in these confines.
And HHR.
Let’s also be clear that what was considered conservative in the 80s would be pushed out of todays GOP as left
Just-saying - The argument that “what was considered conservative in the 80s would be pushed out of today’s GOP as left” is debatable. The only school of conservatism that had a new role in American conservatism in the 80’s was “Evangelicals”. What you are seeing with the Tea Party is the rise of the “debt conscious” and “fiscally responsible” Republican, vs. say the socially conservative Republican. No Social conservative could win a GOP primary advocating for a bailout, but a non socially conservative running against the bailout could easily win.
Okay sarcasm aside with regards civil rights another name comes to mind - Julius Rosenwald, the head of Sears & Roebuck, he was a staunch “laissez-faire” Republican philanthropist. He was also responsible for the creation of 5,000 “Rosenwald Schools” in the South for poor black youth.
“I Survived A Tea Party”…hmmm Did you think you were going to die? How Lame
HHR,
Yes, their were good people of every stripe. Im not arguing that point. But when I trace back the sentiments of todays conservative (As they represent themselves) it does not jive with folks that called themselves conservatives 20-30-40 years ago. For example, for all the talk of deregulation Reagan was smart enough to realize the limits of the free market. He studied economist like Von Mises to realize that a free market left to its own devices would eventually destroy itself and govt intervention. I dont see that moderation in the talk of todays conservative.
I see an ideology that has no use for govt, finds it oppresive. This is in light of the fact that we are not taxed nearly as much as the other industrialized nations. I see a nostalgia for a govt, that would not get involved in matters like education, regulations, consumer rights. Ive been spoiled by a govt that has provided these protections and I will fight all forces that seek to remove them.
Finally, if the Tea Party was solely concerned with debt and fiscal consiousness, Im arguing that we would have seen this when Cheney was asserting that deficits dont matter and passing a Medicare advantage bill with no way to pay for it. Through Fox, these Tea Partiers were telling us to support the President at all cost in a time of war. Why the change? Why the sudden anger?
Just_Saying -
There are various schools of Conservatism and depending on which school you study will inevitably lead you to your present conclusion. The Tea Party for the most part promotes “fiscal conservatism” many are Independents but most are Republican. Fiscal conservatives advocate policies that avoid deficit spending. One reason you did not see such an outcry while Bush was in office was there was very little of a structural organized movement to propel a nationwide protest. Most of the GOP hierarchy as you rightly stated could have cared less about deficit spending. In fact, even today many of them are terrified of the Tea Party because of this. Neither Dick Cheney nor Bush would ever get a Tea Party endorsement. In fact, most of the Tea Party folks are for the antiwar conservative Ron Paul. What you are witnessing is a clash within the Party; one group is the Ron Paul type folks. If you really want to see, this clash check out the Kentucky GOP’s Senate race. It’s a Cheney Republican vs. Ron Paul’s own son…and guess whose winning…Rand Paul!
During Bush other than twittering and blogging there disgust there was little that Conservative activist could do. The movement was mostly Libertarian activist not Republican who led its origins. Today though many GOP activists are seeking to reign it in, but not sure it’s going to work. The New York Times tracked down the movement’s early origins to a female named Keli Carender. Keli is a blogger who attended Oxford University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Math and a minor in Chemistry. In an interview, Keli explains why she started the protest that started a thousand protests. In her answer, she stated “I decided to get involved when I saw the manner in which the stimulus bill was passed. I felt like I was drowning, like I couldn’t breathe. I was calling my congressmen, writing emails, etc., but they were just being ignored. I decided the time had come to do something in the streets, visible to everyone, to let our voices be heard.
SHAMARA, why do you think that black people do not openly attend rallies in support of smaller govt. and against the reigning administration…..from a brown Arizonan American mexican heritage who supports ab1070